Students To Phoenix Symphony Educational Concert

Students in grades three through eight and their teachers will travel from across the state from locations as far as way as Flagstaff to hear this concert. The Wednesday morning performance under the direction of Resident Conductor Lawrence Golan begins at 10 a.m.

During the program entitled "Our Arizona," students will hear music inspired by the magnificent landscapes of Arizona such as Ferde Grofé's "On the Trail" from his Grand Canyon Suite and Peter Boyer's The Phoenix. Other selections celebrate the heritage of Arizona residents including Aaron Copland's "Hoedown" from Rodeo and José Pablo Moncayo's Huapango. Special guest and native Arizonan R. Carlos Nakai will perform on his Native American flute.

In partnership with the Phoenix Museum of History and the Arizona Historical Society, The Phoenix Symphony created supplemental teaching materials that will prepare students for this musical celebration of Arizona. Before and after the performance, students will discover the people, landscapes, and events that inspired the music and make our state famous.

As part of the special presentation of "Our Arizona," winners of the inaugural Symphony for the Schools Essay Contest will be announced at the morning concert. Students in grades three through eight were encouraged to create an essay discussing the people and places of Arizona and describing why they are special. A panel of judges from the Arizona Historical Society will select the winner who will appear onstage to read a portion of their winning essay during the January 30 concert.

This special performance is part of Symphony for the Schools concerts during the 2007-08 season. By the end of the end of the season, more than 28,000 children will have experienced a live symphonic performance by The Phoenix Symphony. The Symphony for the Schools concerts are sponsored by Wells Fargo with additional support from The Arizona Republic, Harold and Jean Grossman Foundation, The Lodestar Foundation, Phoenix Convention and Theatrical Facilities Department, and the Scottsdale League for the Arts. -- www.phoenixsymphony.org